Post pay control system

ABSTRACT

A self-service automotive service station is provided with an electrical control system for controlling and recording the dispensing of fuel at a remote location including a momentary contact switch for energizing a remote relay which is latched in during each dispensing operation and a switch at the dispensing station which momentarily shunts the relay coil at the end of each dispensing operation through a capacitor to open the relay. The system includes interlocks for preventing the resetting of the remote register during operation and for assuring the complete resetting of the register prior to the energization of the coil. It may include a remote cumulative register which is not disabled during attendant operation.

United States Patent [15] 3,662,157 Somers 51 May 9, 1972 [54] PAY3,033,421 5/1962 Henderson ..222/26 [72] Inventor: William P. Somers,Cheshire, Conn. Primary Emminer Maynard R Wilbur [73] Assignee: VeederIndustries Inc., Hartford, Conn. Assistant Examiner-Joseph Thesl,

Attorney-Prutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1970 Appl.No.: 29,446

[57] ABSTRACT A self-service automotive service station is provided withan electrical control system for controlling and recording thedispensing of fuel at a remote location including a momentary contactswitch for energizing a remote relay which is latched in during eachdispensing operation and a switch at the dispensing station whichmomentarily shunts .the relay coil at the end of each dispensingoperation through a capacitor to open the relay. The system includesinterlocks for preventing the resetting of the remote register duringoperation and for assuring the complete resetting of the register priorto the energization of the coil. It may include a remote cumulativeregister which is not disabled during attendant operation.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 73 i m I I i l 13 7/ 9A 0 PATENTEDMM 9 I972SHEEI 1 BF 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM P. SOMERS ATTORNEY5 The present inventionrelates generally to counting devices and has special utility inconnection with self-service dispensing systems for automotive servicestations wherein the service station attendant can control thedispensing of fuel by customers from a remote location.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved selfservicedispensing system wherein the attendant can remotely control a pump forcustomer dispensing. Included in this object is the provision of aremote console having controls for the resetting of the pump registersand the conditioning of the pump for delivery of fuel by the customer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved remotecontrol of a self-service dispensing system wherein the attendant isprovided with a remote register which is correlated with the register onthe dispensing pump and which is reset by the attendant when the pumpregister is reset. lncluded in this object is the provision ofinterlocking means for preventing the resetting of the remote indicatorduring the delivery of fuel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved remotecontrol for conditioning a dispensing pump for the self-servicedispensing of fuel by a customer wherein the complete resetting of theremote register and the pump register is assured before the pump isconditioned for self-service operation. lncluded in this object is theprovision of means for assuring that the readings on the remote registerand the pump register are the same at all times.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a remote controlfor a self-service dispensing system of the type referred to which is ofsimple design, and compact in size, has a minimum number of parts sothat it is inexpensive to manufacture, and requires minimum maintenance.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a retail fuel dispensing station havinga remote control in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the remote control console ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective schematic illustration ofcertain interlocking features of the reset bar of the remote controlconsole of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the circuitry for one ofthe remote control pumps of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram similar to FIG. 4 and showing amodified form of the control circuit of this invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a fuel dispensingservice station is shown as generally including a pair of pumps 2 and 4mounted in side by side relation on the 70 is fixed to rotate with thehandle 14 while the movable element of switch 74 is so connected to thereset mechanism that it rotates to the right (as viewed in FIG. 4) by acam powered by the reset motor 72 but shifts to the left, along with theisland at the service station and in spaced relation relative to theattendants station 6 where a remote control console 8 is located. Thepumps 2 and 4 are similarly constructed and generally include the usualcomputer 10 which is driven in accordance with the flow of fuel throughthe pump nozzle 12 and is provided with the customary registers whichare responsive to a flow meter to visually display the quantity and costof the fuel dispensed from a storage tank (not shown).

Each of the pumps 2 and 4 is provided with a manually operable crank orhandle 14 which is adapted to actuate a switch for resetting thecomputer 10 and then operating the usual motor driven pump (or solenoidvalve) as is disclosed, for example in US. Pat. Nos. 3,142,442-Wild and3,216,659-Ambler et al., both of which are assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention.

In electrically actuated mechanical reset mechanisms of the typedisclosed in these patents, the movable element of switch movableelement of switch 70, when the handle 14 is moved to its off positionfollowing the dispensing of fuel. These reset mechanisms also shift themovable element of switch 74 to the right to deliver power to the pumpmotor 76 after the computer 10 is reset so that the readings on thequantity and cost registers of the computer are erased before eachdelivery is commenced.

Refer now primarily to FIGS. and 4 for a detailed description of theremote control of this invention. As shown, the console 8 is providedwith a module 9 for controlling pump 4. Module 9 is provided with aremovable three-position key which operates a switch 30 having off,manual and automatic (or remote control) positions. When the key isturned for automatic operation, one side of the V AC power is applied toterminal 32 of an AC power control relay 34 and to a switch 36. Power isapplied to signal light 40 through conductors 42, 44 to indicate thatthe control is available for the remote control of the delivery, thecircuit to signal light 40 being completed through switch 60, resistors46, 48, diode 50, capacitor 52, emergency switch 54, and fuse 56 to theother side 58 of the power line. The switch 54 is normally closed butmay be opened to cut off power to the pump 4.

When the attendant wishes to authorize the self-service delivery of fuelat pump 4, he depresses manual reset bar 38 to reset the remote register82 in a known manner such as through the mechanical reset mechanism ofUS. Pat. No. 3,244,368 issued Apr. 5, 1966 and assigned to the assigneeof this application. This also opens the switch 60 and then closes theswitch 36. The closing of switch 36 connects conductor 42 to conductor43 to complete the circuit through resistor 48, diode 50, capacitor 52,switch 54 and fuse 56. This connection bypasses dropping resistor 46 andas the voltage across the capacitor 52 builds up, the relay 34 isenergized to close the relay contacts 32, 66. This provides a shuntacross signal light 40, which is turned off. As the manual reset bar 38is released to open switch 36, the capacitor 52 provides a time delay tomaintain the relay 34in its energized state until the switch 60 isclosed.

The opening of switch 36 interrupts power to conductor 43. However,since relay 34 is closed, voltage isapplied across relay 34 through thedropping resistor 46. Resistor 46 has a value so selected as to providea voltage across relay 34 at a level just above its dropout level. Thus,the relay 34 is latched in and power is available at switch 74 of pump 4for the dispensing of fuel.

The light 69 is turned on to indicate that power is available at thepump 4.

A diode 50 is provided to pass only a half cycle of the applied ACvoltage to reduce the effective voltage applied across the relay 34.This also permitsthe use of electrolytic capacitors and reduces the heatdissipation capacity required of series resistor 48 to approximatelyone-quarter of what would be required if diode 50 were not used. As aresult, resistor 48 may be an inexpensive carbon resistor having aninadequate capacity for dissipating the heat that would otherwise begenerated if the attendant should holdthe reset bar 38 down for a longperiod during reset.

According to one aspect of this invention, interlock means are providedto ensure that the attendant completely resets the counter 82 before asubsequent use of the pump 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 36 whichenergizes the relay 34 is positioned so that it closes at the bottommostposition of the reset bar 38. Moreover, because of the time delayprovided by the capacitor 52, the reset bar 38 must be held in itsdepressed position for a brief period, say two seconds, before relay 34picks up. This delay provides assurance that the counter wheels of .thecounter are fully reset to zero readings and come to a complete halt sothat the counter wheels remain at zero positions as their drive pinionsre-engage the wheels following reset of register 82.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of means to preventthe resetting of the remote register 82 during the dispensing of fuel.

As shown, an interlock solenoid 68 is also energized when reset bar 38is released and switch 60 recloses so that its armature 67 is moved tothe left into the path of travel of reset bar 38 to prevent it frombeing depressed until solenoid 68 (and relay 34) is tie-energized.

With power available at switch 74, the customer may dispense fuel byremoving the dispensing nozzle 12 from its support bracket on the pump4, turning the reset handle 14 on" to close switch 70 and apply poweracross reset motor 72 which operates automatically to reset the quantityand cost registers of the computer of the pump. With reset mechanisms ofthe type described in the aforesaid Wild and Ambler et al. patents, thereset motor 72, at the end of the reset operation, shifts its switch 74to the right so that power is delivered to the motor pump 76 and thecustomer may dispense fuel by opening the manual valve of the dischargenozzle 12. The quantity and cost of the fuel dispensed are recorded onthe registers of the computer 10 in the usual manner.

For providing an indication of the price of the fuel dispensed on aremote register 82 of the control console 8, a pulse transmitter, suchas a magnetically operated reed switch, 78 is geared to the computercents wheel and is connected in series with a full-wave rectifier bridge80 between the switch 74 and the power line 58. As fuel is delivered,the closing of the reed switch 78 produces pulses corresponding to thenumber of cents of fuel being dispensed and the full wave rectifierbridge 80 produces pulses in the solenoid coil of counter 82 whichcauses the counter to register the cost of the fuel being delivered. Aflasher light 84 connected across the bridge rectifier 80 flashes on andoff at a speed corresponding to the operation of reed switch 78to give avisual indication of the functioning of the remote recording system. v

After the desired quantity of fuel has been dispensed, the customermoves the pump handle 14 to its off position. With the reset mechanismsof the type disclosed by the aforesaid Wild and Ambler et al. patents,this causes the movable element of switch 74 to move to the left so thatpower cannot be transmitted to the motor pump 76 and also rotates themovable element of switch 70 to the left.

In accordance with an important aspect of this invention, means areprovided for interrupting power to the pump when the customer returnsthe handle 14 to its off" position. As shown in FIG. 4, switch 70, whenin its left position connects terminal 51 to ground through capacitor86. When so connected, capacitor 86, which is of sufficient size tooverpower capacitor 52, say 10 times as large, provides a transientshort circuit between the terminal 51 and ground to apply a zero voltageacross relay 34. This causes relay 34 to drop out and interrupt thepower to pump 4, and the customer may no longer dispense fuel from pump4. Resistor 88 serves to dissipate any charge stored in capacitor 86.

When the attendant desires to make the pump available for a subsequentself-service delivery of fuel, he again depresses the reset bar 38 whichresets the remote register 82.

As stated above, as soon as power is available at switch 74 and handle14 is rotated to shift switch 70 to its on position, the reset motor 72is energized to reset computer 10.

Pulser 78 is mounted on a reset shaft of computer 10 which rotatesduring reset. However, the operation of pulser 78 during reset does notproduce pulses counted by the register 82 since switch 74 delivers nopower to pulser 78 during reset. Thus, the resetting of the computer 10by the reset motor 72 does not change the reading on the remote counter82 from its zero setting. In this connection, by mounting the pulser 78on the reset shaft which is always returned to the same zero position asa result of the resetting of the computer 10, the pulser 78 may beadjusted to an open position at the zero reset position. This assuresthat a chance pulse will not be recorded on the counter 82 when power isapplied to switch 74 at the end of the resetting of the computer 10 butbefore the delivery of fuel.

If desired, a second pulser may be mounted to be driven by anonresettable shaft of computer 10. Where pulser 90 is mounted on such ashaft associated with the quantity of fuel delivered, it will provide asignal which may be used to actuate a quantity register 94 to providethe total quantity of fuel dispensed by a given pump in any period oftime. The signals produced by such a pulser may be passed to register 94through a bridge circuit 92 similar to bridge circuit 80.

A second control module 9a having a control circuit the same as thatshown for module 9 in FIG. 4, may be provided in remote control console8 to control the operation of pump 2. Such a module may be connected toAC power by conductor 96 so that emergency switch 54 controls the powerto both pump 2 and pump 4. If desired, further control modules forcontrolling the pumps may be similarly provided.

The remote control system of this invention accommodates conventionalservice station operation where the attendant rather than the customerdispenses the fuel. Where such operation is desired, the key operatedswitch 30 may be shifted to its manual position. This bypasses the relay34 and delivers power directly to the pump mounted reset switch 74 forconventional operation. With such operation, the remote register 82 willindicate the total dollar amount of the fuel dispensed and the remoteindicator 94 will provide an indication of the total quantity of thefuel dispensed.

Referring now to FIG. 5 in which like numerals refer to like parts ofFIG. 4, there is shown the schematic diagram circuit for a modified formof the present invention. In this modified form, the remote reset bar 38actuates a switch 36 which energizes relay 34 in the same manner as inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. In this design, however, theswitch 60 is eliminated so that power is immediately available at theswitch 74 of the pump 4. Moreover, the interlock solenoid 68 is notenergized upon the release of the reset bar 38 but rather is connectedat 98 to the output circuit for the pulser 78 so that the first pulseproduced by the pulser 78 energizes solenoid 68 and moves its armature67 to the left into the path of reset bar 38 to lock the reset baragainst reset. As the armature 67 is moved to the left, it also movesthe movable switch element of switch 100 to the left (shown in phantomin FIG. 3) to complete a circuit with contact 102 to self-latch thesolenoid 68 in its energized stated. With this design, the reset bar maybe depressed at any time until the customer begins to dispense fuel,otherwise this embodiment is identical to that illustrated in FIG. 4.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention provides aremote control suitable for either self-service or conventionalattendant service. This control is of simple design and reliable inperformance and provides interlocking features which assure that theremote attendant has full control of the dispensing of fuel under allcircumstances, that the readings on the pump and the remote register areidentical to safeguard the interests of both the customer and thestation operator and further provides an arrangement for maintaining anaccurate inventory of the fuel dispensed through either conventional orself-service operation.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, variousmodifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specificdisclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of thepresent invention.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing apparatus disposed at a fuel dispensing stand andhaving a dispensing conduit, supply means for delivering fuel underpressure to said conduit, a meter in said conduit for measuring the fuelflowing therethrough, and an outlet nozzle for the conduit, theimprovement comprising electric control means including a relay locatedremotely from said dispensing stand for controlling the delivery ofpower to said supply means, a momentary contact switch for energizingsaid relay to a first level sufficient to actuate the same, animpedance, electric circuit means for connecting the impedance incircuit relation with the coil of said relay after the momen tarycontact switch is actuated to energize the coil at a second level justabove its dropout voltage to latch the relay in its closed position, anda switch controlled by the operating of the apparatus at said dispensingstand for deenergizing the relay coil to open the relay.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned switchconnects a capacitor in shunt across the relay coil.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein a remote register is providedto give a reading indicative of the amount of fuel dispensed throughsaid nozzle, switching means driven in response to the operation of saidmeter generates signals for actuating said register, and said remoteregister includes a reset mechanism actuated simultaneously with saidmomentary contact switch.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 including a capacitor connected inshunt with said relay coil to delay the energization of said coil toensure the complete resetting of said remote register prior to theclosing of said relay.

5. A device as recited in claim 3 wherein a single operator actuatessaid reset mechanism and closes said momentary contact switch, saidmomentary contact switch being closed at the end of the stroke of saidoperator to ensure the complete resetting of said remote register.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 including a solenoid which isenergized after the release of said operator, said solenoid having aplunger which latches the operator against subsequent operation untilafter said relay coil is de-energized.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 wherein said solenoid is energized inresponse to the first signal generated by said signal generatingswitching means during each dispensing operation.

8. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein a diode is connected in serieswith said relay coil.

9. A device as recited in claim 3 wherein said dispensing apparatusincludes computing register means disposed at said dispensing stand anddriven in response to the operation of said meter, said computingregister means having an electrically driven reset mechanism forresetting said computing register means prior to the availability ofpower to said supply means for each dispensing operation, said signalgenerating switching means being actuated in response to the operationof a reset shaft of said dispensing apparatus, and means are providedfor preventing said switching means from delivering a signal to theremote register during reset of said computing register means.

10. A device as recited in claim 9 wherein said switching meanscomprises a switch adjusted to its open position when said computingregister means is reset to its zero position.

11. A device as recited in claim 3 including a non-resettable remoteregister actuated in response to the operation of said meter to providea cumulative reading indicative of the total fuel dispensed by saidapparatus.

12. A device as recited in claim 3 including a master control switch forconditioning the apparatus for manual use, said control means beingineffective to disable said remote register.

13. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the impedance is a resistorconnected in series with the coil of said relay.

1. In a dispensing apparatus disposed at a fuel dispensing stand andhaving a dispensing conduit, supply means for delivering fuel underpressure to said conduit, a meter in said conduit for measuring the fuelflowing therethrough, and an outlet nozzle for the conduit, theimprovement comprising electric control means including a relay locatedremotely from said dispensing stand for controlling the delivery ofpower to said supply means, a momentary contact switch for energizingsaid relay to a first level sufficient to actuate the same, animpedance, electric circuit means for connecting the impedance incircuit relation with the coil of said relay after the momentary contactswitch is actuated to energize the coil at a second level just above itsdropout voltage to latch the relay in its closed position, and a switchcontrolled by the operating of the apparatus at said dispensing standfor deenergizing the relay coil to open the relay.
 2. A device asrecited in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned switch connects acapacitor in shunt across the relay coil.
 3. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein a remote register is provided to give a readingindicative of the amount of fuel dispensed through said nozzle,switching means driven in response to the operation of said metergenerates signals for actuating said register, and said remote registerincludes a reset mechanism actuated simultaneously with said momentarycontact switch.
 4. A device as recited in claim 3 including a capacitorconnected in shunt with said relay coil to delay the energization ofsaid coil to ensure the complete resetting of said remote register priorto the closing of said relay.
 5. A device as recited in claim 3 whereina single operator actuates said reset mechanism and closes saidmomentary contact switch, said momentary contact switch being closed atthe end of the stroke of said operator to ensure the complete resettingof said remote register.
 6. A device as recited in claim 5 including asolenoid which is energized after the release of said operator, saidsolenoid having a plunger which latches the operator against subsequentoperation until after said relay coil is de-energized.
 7. A device asrecited in claim 6 wherein said solenoid is energized in response to thefirst signal generated by said signal generating switching means duringeach dispensing operation.
 8. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein adiode Is connected in series with said relay coil.
 9. A device asrecited in claim 3 wherein said dispensing apparatus includes computingregister means disposed at said dispensing stand and driven in responseto the operation of said meter, said computing register means having anelectrically driven reset mechanism for resetting said computingregister means prior to the availability of power to said supply meansfor each dispensing operation, said signal generating switching meansbeing actuated in response to the operation of a reset shaft of saiddispensing apparatus, and means are provided for preventing saidswitching means from delivering a signal to the remote register duringreset of said computing register means.
 10. A device as recited in claim9 wherein said switching means comprises a switch adjusted to its openposition when said computing register means is reset to its zeroposition.
 11. A device as recited in claim 3 including a non-resettableremote register actuated in response to the operation of said meter toprovide a cumulative reading indicative of the total fuel dispensed bysaid apparatus.
 12. A device as recited in claim 3 including a mastercontrol switch for conditioning the apparatus for manual use, saidcontrol means being ineffective to disable said remote register.
 13. Adevice as recited in claim 1 wherein the impedance is a resistorconnected in series with the coil of said relay.